The cost of a vegetarian thali fell 17 per cent on-month in September with the major push coming from tomato prices, which declined 62 per cent on-month to Rs 39 per kg in September 2023 from Rs 102 per kg in August, rating firm Crisil said.

The cost of a non-vegetarian thali declined 9 per cent on-month due to a 2-3 per cent estimated on-month increase in prices of broiler (more than 50 per cent share in the total thali cost). However, onion prices rose 12 per cent on-month in September and are expected to remain firm amid the expected lower output in kharif 2023, it said.

While the cost of a vegetarian thali was Rs 27.9 in September as against Rs 33.8 in August, non-vegetarian thali came down to Rs 61.4 from Rs 67.3 during the same period.

A thali is an Indian-style meal made up of a selection of various dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

The cost of fuel, which accounts for 14 per cent and 8 percent of the total cost of vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis, respectively, declined 18 per cent on-month in September as the cost of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder fell to Rs 903 from Rs 1,103. Prices of chillies also provided some relief by cooling off 31 per cent on-month, Crisil said.
Crisil said the average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. Monthly change reflects the impact on the common person’s expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil, cooking gas) driving changes in the cost of a thali.

A veg thali comprises roti, vegetables (onion, tomato, and potato), rice, dal, curd, and salad. For non-veg thali, the constituents remain the same but for dal, which is replaced by chicken.India’s annual retail inflation eased to 6.83 per cent in August from a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July as food prices moderated.

Falling tomato prices drag down cost of thalis in September